The ITU Telecom World Awards

Recognising the best in
innovative tech solutions with social impact

2018 in figures

3700+

participants from 94 countries

300

exhibitors, sponsors and partners

150+

expert speakers

200+

ICT leaders from public & private sector

What they said

"It is a great opportunity to be here and participate at such a big event. It gives us lots of possibilities to meet other regulators who have already implemented new techniques, we can share their experience. It’s marvellous and an excellent opportunity."

Mindaugas Žilinskas, Deputy Director, CRA Republic of Lithuania

"You can talk for a long time about transformation, but you need to get into the area, as ITU Telecom World does, to see exactly what people are doing. That’s coupled that with a lot of good topics - and collaboration, talking about different things with different people at the same time, cultivating collaboration amongst the ecosystem suppliers, that is a great thing to do."

Dr. Mohamed Madkour, Vice President, GWNM Huawei Technologies

"It’s been brilliant to be able to meet so many ministers, regulators, directors of ICT all within one space, whereas normally we would have had to travel thousands of miles. "

Andy Bates, Executive Director, UK & EMEA Global Cyber Alliance

"Through attending these kinds of events we are able to make a contribution, hear the view of governments and our peers on what challenges our industry is facing and this provides further opportunities for us to align on synergies and opportunities for smart partnerships."

Ravi Suchak, VP, Public Affairs, EMEA American Tower Corporation

"You bring international expertise from all over the world to one single event, there is a lot of showcasing of products and solutions but more importantly it is an opportunity to engage with people from all over the world, you are meeting with policy makers, with international players, finding areas of cooperation"

Shameel Joosub, CEO Vodacom

"ITU Telecom World has been a fantastic event, a great opportunity for us to engage with different stakeholders on bettering societies through adopting smart solutions. I don’t think there’s any better place for that dialogue than ITU Telecom."

Ravi Suchak, VP, Public Affairs, EMEA American Tower Corporation

"The innovations and companies exhibiting have been great, and the networking amongst the different organisations has been phenomenal."

Ashraf Patel, Digital Economy Associate, IGD University of South Africa

"Unlike most other shows where I just see big brand companies, all the developing countries are here, and it is really for the benefit of all ITU’s member states. "

David Wen, Chair ITU Focus Group on Digital Fiat Currency

"This is the best place to meet the regulatory agencies, the mobile network operators, the telecoms ministers. "

Pascal Prot, Chief Technical Officer Legos

"The value of this conference is the ability to take advantage, to make partnerships with different participants, to exchange experiences and be able to invite investors in the ICT sector to Burundi as there is much to be done. "

"We will not be connected as a country or a village but we will be connected as a globe; so it is more than sharing best practices, it is really collaborating and coordinating - and this is an excellent venue for that."

André Borges, Secretary of Telecommunications Brazil

"The main value is knowing the new ideas and sharing knowledge with people coming from all over the world. We are talking about new topics such as agriculture, new concerns in the market, sharing knowledge and getting in touch with the regulators who are setting the laws to create more flexibility for businesses."

Mohamad Damush, Group CEO Telecel Global

"It focuses on the technology but also on the social side of telecommunications, it brings together both industry and regulators - this is the only place we want to be."

Jean-Paul Chaib, Managing Director LS telcom France

"It is a great honour for me, as small company with lots of potential. I saw a lot of companies like us here, we would like to come here every year if we have the chance, all the ICT system is here to cooperate with, and there are many ceremonies and festivals to have fun together, it is very good "

Sujeong Park, Manager iKoob

"You can catch up with colleagues from industry or from other sectors, you can share best practices and the nice thing is that everyone is on the same page related to 5G, you have countries that are more advanced than others but there is big progress also in developing markets, that’s great to hear."

Marc Vancoppenolle, Global Head of Government Relations NOKIA

"The value comes for me and for the young people who attend, who share what they have here and what they learn. Many young people come here with innovations, they exchange ideas and see how to create SMEs. There are many things we are here to learn, and we go back to our countries we try to implement these ideas."

"The ITU World conference is really good and very, very worthwhile – we want more people to understand what we are trying to do and work with us!"

Jack Buechler, Chief Operating Officer Quika

"We take it as a learning platform, an opportunity to see new technologies and learn a lot from our colleagues who are ahead of us and to develop the ICT sector in Malawi."

Ben Chitsonga, Director of Finance, MACRA Malawi

"Digital fiat currency can benefit all the developing countries, so ITU Telecom World is a very good place for us to spread the message. "

David Wen, Chair ITU Focus Group on Digital Fiat Currency

"It is a fantastic gathering bringing together professionals from the industry, the public, the UN organizations, the officials to talk to each other, to have heated discussions…this is how you get new ideas, this is how you identify opportunities and challenges."

Dr. Amani Abou - Zeid, Commissioner African Union Commission

"It’s very green! We have only had to travel hundreds of metres up and down the hall to meet regulators, ministers, important people – it has saved me so much time and effort, very, very worthwhile."

Jack Buechler, Chief Operating Officer Quika

"We have big challenges across these markets which we cannot confront on our own, so this combination of the operators, the policy makers, the governments and civil society, we have to work together to solve the challenges and what the ITU does is bring everyone together at the same time, which I think is hugely powerful."

Rob Shuter, Group President & CEO MTN

"It was really great chance to be here and introduce some services and content to other countries. We met many partners here from Africa and we`d like to come again to expand our business again. "

Helen Lee, Director Marvus

"Many of us are very much caught up in our own national or regional work, so an event like this gives us the opportunity to come together and learn what other countries are doing to tackle issues like the digital divide, to find out best practices we may not have thought of ourselves. It is extremely useful."

Leong Keng Thai, Deputy Chief Executive IMDA

"Here is a global platform where people learn from us and we also learn from them, here we have been able to network to find innovations in other parts of the world which we can adopt in our country..: so the world will be better, sooner. "

Abraham Kofi Asante, Administrator, GIFEC Ghana

"This is an exceptional opportunity to interact with my peers, with governments and policy makers and all stakeholders in one place, and actually hear their perspectives."

"It’s amazing, it’s a wonderful opportunity for the ITU family to come together and learn from each other’s experiences, to know that we are doing the right things and also to borrow from one another to accelerate the pace of our development."

Hon. Ursula G. Owusu-Ekuful, Minister of Communications Ghana

"We are very happy to be part of this experience, I think it is of great value for us considering the partnerships we have built here, the people we have met and the deals we have actually finalised. It is always a pleasure to see the whole world in one place and get to know each other, and we would love to be part of this experience for as long as it takes."

Bazara Imam Ali Barry, Director, Business Development, NCTR Sudan

"To learn, to network, to be able to meet other countries and people, learn what they are doing, share what you are doing back home and constantly improve. It is a good opportunity to network, to meet, to know each other, and that human contact is important"

"Regulators are theoretical and we need to have more practice to know how things work and in different conditions in practical cases, so this excellent event is a great opportunity to present and share experience. "